Childhood Lost

Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).

Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.

Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism

(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)

"What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless."

John Stone,

UK media editor, Age of Autism

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"The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country."

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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June 12, 2019, DelawareOnline.com: How Eisenberg Elementary's wellness center helped dramatically reduce disciplinary actions https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/06/12/how-delaware-school-wellness-center-helped-reduce-disciplinary-actions/1407383001/…The mom credits this conversation to the Wilmington Manor Elementary wellness center, which Colonial School District established this fall.
Twice a week during lunch, her son and a group of other students went to the wellness center, where they did activities centered around leadership, empathy and feelings.
Billings said she's seen seen a change in her 11-year-old boy, who loves to play basketball and "Fortnite." He can now better articulate his emotions and is more empathetic with his classmates, she said.
This idea for wellness centers in elementary schools began with Eisenberg Elementary about three years ago. And in that time, district officials have seen a drastic decrease in the number of disciplinary actions, or behavioral referrals, among Eisenberg students.
Officials view this as a promising start and believe the wellness center model can be implemented at elementary schools statewide. A bill in the General Assembly is seeking to establish wellness centers at high-needs elementary schools.
Remarkable impact
Although most Delaware high schools have a wellness center, Eisenberg was the first public elementary school to have a wellness center — offering basic health care to students including diagnosing illnesses, writing prescriptions and providing behavioral and mental health services.
"Before, we could refer parents and say, 'Hey, you can go to this mental health clinic up in Wilmington.' And it would never happen," said Eisenberg principal David Distler. "But now that it's in the school, we can say to parents, 'Hey, we have the wellness center in the school and we can get you treated in the school.' …